JessDudley8515: created first bio w/ sources

2026-03-15T03:54:00Z

created first bio w/ sources

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{{Orphan|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Pramod Gopalrao Gaikwad
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = 1973
| birth_place = [[Nashik]], Maharashtra, India
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Social worker
| organization = Social Networking Forum (SNF)
}}

'''Pramod Gopalrao Gaikwad''' (born 1973) is an Indian social worker from Maharashtra. He is the founder of the Social Networking Forum, a non-profit organization that undertakes community-based initiatives in rural and tribal areas of the state.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Botekar |first=Abhilash |date=2020-11-14 |title=Netizens light up Diwali for students in tribal areas, gift them books & stationery |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/netizens-light-up-diwali-for-students-in-tribal-areas-gift-them-books-stationery/articleshow/79213766.cms |access-date= |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Gaikwad is the recipient of the [[Government of Maharashtra]]'s Adivasi Sevak Puraskar<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-05-06 |title=आदिवासी भागातील जनतेने बिनधास्त घ्यावी कोरोना लस |url=https://www.lokmat.com/nashik/people-tribal-areas-should-take-corona-vaccine-without-hesitation-a687/ |access-date= |website=Lokmat |language=mr}}</ref> and was recognized as a Water Hero by the [[Ministry of Jal Shakti]] in 2020.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2020 |title=Winner Announcement Of Water Heroes Share Your Story Contest For October Month |url=https://blog.mygov.in/winner-announcement-of-water-heroes-share-your-story-contest-for-october-month/ |access-date= |website=[[MyGov.in]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Gaikwad was born in Gosrane village, Kalwan taluka, [[Nashik district]], Maharashtra. He is the son of Gopalrao and Rajani Gaikwad, both of whom were government school teachers.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=देशपांडे |first=प्रवर |date=3 October 2018 |title=सूर समाजमाध्यमांचा, ध्यास समाजकार्याचा... |url=https://www.mahamtb.com/Encyc/2018/10/3/Article-on-work-of-pramod-gaikwad.html |access-date= |website=Mumbai Tarun Bharat: Marathi News |language=mr}}</ref>

He received his primary education at Zilla Parishad schools in rural Nashik before attending the Government Public School (''Shaskiy Vidya Niketan'') in Dhule. He later attended the Services Preparatory Institute (SPI) in Aurangabad. Gaikwad completed a [[Bachelor of Science]] in Physics from the Arts, Science & Commerce College, Satana, and subsequently earned a [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) in Finance from the PIRENS Institute of Business Management, Loni.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Attri |first=M. |date=2025-08-21 |title=How One Man's Facebook Movement Uplifted Thousands In Maharashtra's Tribal Belts |url=https://news.abplive.com/states/maharashtra/how-one-man-s-facebook-movement-uplifted-thousands-in-maharashtra-s-tribal-belts-1795910 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=ABP Live |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Gaikwad began community development work in 2007, initially supporting educational programs in tribal schools.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-29 |title=The man who turned social media into a tool for tribal empowerment |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/features/the-man-who-turned-social-media-into-a-tool-for-tribal-empowerment-1503478473.html |website=The Statesman |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, he began addressing water scarcity and rural development in the tribal regions of Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-24 |title=अकरा आदिवासी गावे श्रमदानातून झाली पाणीटंचाई मुक्त |url=https://www.lokmat.com/nashik/eleven-tribal-villages-were-relieved-work-water-shortage-free/ |website=Lokmat |language=mr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022 |title=25 गावे टँकरमुक्त, 15 वाचनालयांची स्थापना; अजून बरेच काही: सोशल नेटवर्कींगचे प्रमोद गायकवाड ठरले 'आउटस्टँडींग सिटीझन' |url=https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/local/maharashtra/nashik/news/25-villages-made-tanker-free-15-libraries-established-much-more-social-networking-forums-pramod-gaikwad-named-outstanding-citizen-130039631.html |work=Dainik Bhaskar}}</ref>

=== Social Networking Forum (SNF) ===
In 2010, Gaikwad established the Social Networking Forum (SNF),<ref>{{Cite web |last=सकाळवृत्तसेवा |date=2017-06-20 |title=सोशल नेटवर्किंग फोरमच्या जल अभियानात सातवे गाव टॅंकरमुक्त |url=https://www.esakal.com/uttar-maharashtra/nashik-news-social-networking-53884 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Marathi News Esakal |language=Mr}}</ref> which originated as an online platform for coordinating rural development projects.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |date=2025-09-24 |title=How one social activist's social media movement brought water revolution in tribal Maharashtra |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/how-one-social-activists-social-media-movement-brought-water-revolution-in-tribal-maharashtra/articleshow/124094063.cms?from=mdr |access-date= |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> The organization was formally registered as a non-profit entity in 2014.<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Deshpande |first=Chaitanya |date=2017-04-16 |title=Social media takes stance in solving Malegaon's water problem |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/social-media-takes-stance-in-solving-malegaons-water-problem/articleshow/58200557.cms |access-date= |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

=== Library movement ===
In January 2020, Gaikwad launched the Library Movement in Savarne, Nashik district.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chitra |date=2024-04-12 |title=Nashik: Rural Library Initiative Aims to Empower Tribal Students Amid Educational Challenges - www.lokmattimes.com |url=https://www.lokmattimes.com/maharashtra/nashik-rural-library-initiative-aims-to-empower-tribal-students-amid-educational-challenges-a505/ |access-date= |website=[[Lokmat Times]] |language=en}}</ref> The initiative involves the conversion of unused community spaces into study centers for rural students. By September 2025, the program had established 29 libraries in tribal villages, providing resources for competitive examination preparation and general literacy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 2025 |title=Library Movement Expands Access To Education In Nashik's Tribal Villages |url=https://www.thedailyjagran.com/education/library-movement-expands-access-to-education-in-nashiks-tribal-villages-10269727 |access-date= |website=www.thedailyjagran.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kanhaiya Dwivedi |first=Sujata |date=September 26, 2025 |title=Library Movement Boosts Education in Nashik's Tribal Villages |url=https://www.ndtv.com/cities/library-movement-boosts-education-in-nashiks-tribal-villages-9348546 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250926093646/https://www.ndtv.com/cities/library-movement-boosts-education-in-nashiks-tribal-villages-9348546 |archive-date=2025-09-26 |access-date= |work=NDTV |language=en}}</ref>

=== Water security and rural development ===
As of August 2025, the SNF has implemented water infrastructure projects in 35 villages across the Nashik, Nandurbar, and Thane districts. These projects, funded through a combination of community contributions and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) grants, provide water access to an estimated 60,000 residents.<ref name=":22" />

== Award and recognition ==
* '''2015:''' Global CSR Award presented at the World CSR Day congress.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-20 |title=प्रमोद गायकवाड यांना आंतरराष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार - Marathi News {{!}} Pramod Gaikwad Gets International Award - Latest Maharashtra News at Loksatta.com |url=https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra/pramod-gaikwad-gets-international-award-1073567/ |access-date= |website=Loksatta |language=mr}}</ref>
* '''2017:''' Adivasi Sevak Puraskar, a state-level honor awarded by the [[Government of Maharashtra]] for the contributions in tribal development.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":32"/>
* '''2018:''' Keshav Srushti Award in recognition of social work initiatives.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2018 |title=प्रमोद गायकवाड यांना केशवसृष्टी पुरस्कार |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/mumbai-news/keshavsrishna-award-for-pramod-gaikwad/articleshow/65759235.cms |access-date= |website=[[Maharashtra Times]] |language=mr}}</ref>
* '''2020:''' Water Hero designation, awarded by the [[Ministry of Jal Shakti]] as part of the "Water Heroes: Share Your Stories" contest.<ref name=":42"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaikwad, Pramod Gopalrao}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:People from Nashik]]

Pramod Gopalrao Gaikwad - Revision history

JessDudley8515: created first bio w/ sources